[joekitch]

I was originally going with volt batteries for my 71 corvette before realizing the lg chem modules in wrecked pacifica batteries would have the same power density, better energy density, cost about the same per kw, and be way easier to pick and place (since they're much smaller) than the volt's multiple sizes of modules

but i cant find a single one on ebay, and car-part's search system is really bad for finding traction batteries, so I'm not even sure they're on there. Do i just start calling every yard that has a pacifica hybrid and ask if the battery is still in there? Would i need to extract the battery myself?

i read a few things about LG stopping sales to resellers but does that include preventing junkyards from parting them out?

 

[Rusted B&B]

ev west has them - but your going to pay for it

 

[joekitch]

ev west has them - but your going to pay for it

They have the brandy-new lg chem bricks and charge a premium for them, but I don't need that, I'm fine cracking open a few Pacifica traction batteries

 

[brian_]

ev west has them - but your going to pay for it

Do they? EV West lists LG CHEM Lithium Ion Battery - 60.8V, 2.6kWh (the Pacifica module) as "This item is currently not available. Please contact [email protected] for more information on replacement options."

EV West also lists a significantly different LG Chem module:
LG Chem Super Cells 1.6 kWh - JH3 63Ah 7S High Power Battery Module - For Tesla Systems
While EV West is recommending these modules for EV conversions using Tesla (Model S/X) drive units, they are not intended by LG for vehicles.

From a previous discussion:

An LG Chem catalog suggests that JH3 is the "Energy" (rather than "High Energy" or "Power") variant in their range of cells for large energy storage systems. It may not be intended for use in a vehicle, as it is intended for discharge rates under 1C. Based on this catalog, the 7S 63 Ah JH3 module appears to be one of two used in LG Chem's smallest residential energy storage system, the "48 V" RESU3.3. The other RESU models may use more of the same modules in parallel. The catalog shows that stationary ESS and automotive applications are distinct.

 

[joekitch]

No other replies so far is.... concerning. Where the heck are these batteries hiding?

 

[brian_]

No other replies so far is.... concerning. Where the heck are these batteries hiding?

For the five years that they have been in production, the Pacifica Hybrid has only sold a few hundred per month in the U.S. - about seven thousand per year - and none of them are old enough to have been scrapped for wear or failure. With only write-off collisions of new minivans as a source (perhaps several hundred of them), it's not surprising that salvage components are rare.

 

[remy_martian]

Anyone call the dealer to find out how much an assembly costs?

 

[joekitch]

Called up a place called LKQ in Arizona, found by looking on car-part for the hybrid version of the engine and just calling wrecking places that have a Pacifica hybrid

They had the traction battery said it's listed as a "hybrid battery" on car-part which is which because there is no Hybrid Battery option on there to search for

Said it'd be $3160 for the battery assembly and roughly $250 to ship it to the bay area.

So, not terrible, but annoying complications will be that it's a 16kwh pack but only 12kwh is usable, meaning I need three battery packs worth of LG chem cells and widen the safety margin to 13kwh to hit that ideal spot of 40kwh

 

[joekitch]

Anyone call the dealer to find out how much an assembly costs?

Mopar saying it's $14,000, big yikes

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-mild-hybrid-motor-generator-unit-mgu-battery-pack-68488189aa?c=Zz1lbGVjdHJpY2FsJnM9d2lyaW5nLWJvZHktYW5kLWFjY2Vzc29yaWVzJmw9MSZuPVNlYXJjaCBSZXN1bHRzJmE9Y2hyeXNsZXImbz1wYWNpZmljYSZ5PTIwMTkmdD1oeWJyaWQtbGltaXRlZCZlPTMtNmwtdjYtZWxlY3RyaWMtZ2Fz

 

[brian_]

Mopar saying it's $14,000, big yikes

That's MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price). As is typical for OEM parts, online vendors (which purchase from the OEM as a dealer) offer substantial discounts from MSRP; I saw under $10K USD at the first site I checked. From a local dealer, a discount from MSRP would likely require going through someone with a trade discount who is willing to do you a favour.

That description says "Motor Generator Unit (MGU) Battery Pack", and that's the term to search for... but it also says "Mild Hybrid", which is weird given that the Pacifica hybrid isn't a mild hybrid - it's actually a fully functional plug-in.

 

[piotrsko]

I had a lot of sucess with carpart just searching for the term "battery". Did however get a bunch of listings for starter batteries.

And just because everyone says you only get 10...... I get 18 out of my 16/10 rated volt pack, but I threw away the BMS. Don't try that at home.